Interactive Toy Concepts Desert Thunder User Manual

TM

8

TM

The Desert Thunder is a delicate machine.
Before removing it from the packaging, please read
the instructions. Do NOT pull on the rotors!

Congratulations on the purchase of your state-of-the-art, indoor helicopter.
The Desert Thunder uses the latest in electronic and battery technology
to give you a flight experience you won't forget.
Though your Desert Thunder is designed to be easy to fly and extremely
stable, it is an aircraft and as such you need to spend a bit of time
reading this manual to learn to operate it properly and safely.
There is a very active internet-based community where you can get all
sorts of tips and connect with other pilots.

Please note that this helicopter is meant to be flown inside only. Do NOT fly it outside!

Unpacking
Our helicopter is fastened securely in place to prevent shipping damage.
The Desert Thunder is a delicate device and you must be very careful when removing it from the
packaging to prevent any damage.

Assembly
The

Desert Thunder

infrared signal (IR) to control it’s flight.

itself is partially charged and fully assembled. The

While the Desert Thunder is easy to fly, it still requires some

Desert Thunder

uses

basic training and understanding on how to operate the transmitter control sticks, its cause and effect.
With the proper care and maintenance, your flying experience can be greatly enhanced. Please take the
time to read this instruction manual.

PACKAGE CONTENTS:

FLIGHT TRIM

CONTROL

1. Desert Thunder Helicopter.

2. IR Transmitter/Charger.

3.

UPPER ROTORS

BALANCE BAR

LOWER ROTORS

ON/OFF

UP-DOWN

FLIGHT

CONTROL

LEFT-RIGHT

FLIGHT CONTROL

PRE FLIGHT- SYSTEM PREPARATION

Step 1

Open the battery cover at the back of the IR Controller
by removing the screw.
Be sure to install the batteries in the correct orientation
(as shown).Insert six (6) new AA batteries*
Use only alkaline batteries.

Replace the battery cover and secure by
tightening the screw.

FOR BEST PERFORMANCE ONLY
USE NEW ALKALINE BATTERIES,
DO NOT MIX OLD AND NEW
BATTERIES.

* Batteries are sold separately

CHARGING YOUR Desert Thunder HELICOPTER

Color LED showing battery

Step 3

1) Ensure the helicopter's

on/off

switch is in the OFF position.

2) Plug the charging cord into the
helicopter (as shown).

3) Switch the IR Controller/Charger

to ON position.

4) Let the charger run its charge
cycle. When charge is finished
the green LED goes out.

Interrupting the charge before the charge cycle is completed will not damage the battery, however for the

longest flight times please let the charger finish its charge cycle.

power and charging status

Red LED on transmitter flashing:

-Transmitter turned ON but not initialized.

-transmitter battery power is low.

Red LED on transmitter is on:

(After the controller Initialized.)

-Power switched ON transmitter
initialized.

Green LED on transmitter is ON:

-Helicopter charging.

Green LED on transmitter flashing:

-Helicopter almost fully charged.

Green LED on transmitter OFF:

-Helicopter is fully charged.

Step 2

Open the charger cover at the front of the IR
Controller. Locate the charge cable and
extend it out (as shown)
The IR Controller also works as the charger
for the Desert Thunder which has its own
internal rechargeable battery.

GET IN THE AIR FAST!!!
THE HELICOPTER IS PARTIALLY CHARGED
SO YOU CAN FLY IMMEDIATELY OUT OF
THE BOX.
CHARGE TIME VARIES BASED ON
HELICOPTER AND CHARGER BATTERY
CONDITIONS. TYPICALLY AFTER A 4
MINUTE FLIGHT THE HELICOPTER WILL
NEED A 20 MINUTE CHARGE.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO WAIT FOR
THE CHARGE TO BE COMPLETE TO FLY,
SHORTER CHARGE TIMES = SHORTER FLIGHT TIMES.

IF THE LED ON THE HELICOPTER IS
FLASHING THIS MEANS IT IS RUNNING IN
LOW BATTERY! PLS. CHARGE THE
HELICOPTER IMMEDIATELY!

FIRST FLIGHT- ARMING AND TRIMMING YOUR HELICOPTER

“Arm” the throttle by cycling the throttle control from off (bottom) to full on (full up) and

back to off, the Red LED on the Controller will turn on – this is a safety feature to
prevent accidental starts. Your helicopter must be "trimmed" to stop unwanted rotation.
First, using the "UP" control stick, simply raise the helicopter to eye level and turn the
trim control knob (as shown) on the transmitter unit either left or right until the helicopter
stops spinning. This should be done everytime you fly your helicopter after charging.
Trim setting will vary as the helicopter battery drains.
Re-adjust trim during flight as required.

TRIM CONTROL KNOB

FLYING TIPS!

Take off - To take off, the rotors need to spin up to speed to produce lift. For great take offs use the following steps.

1) Push the UP/DOWN throttle completely to UP and watch the helicopter leap off the ground.

2) Once off the ground, gently reduce the throttle so that the helicopter is at the desired height above the ground.
Altitude Control - the throttle control is a digital proportional system, therefore fine movement of the throttle stick will

produce minor changes in the
Take time to practice controlling the altitude and getting accustomed to the throttle sensitivity.
Note: The

helicopter

will always fly forward based on its design.

Trimming - Once flying at the desired height the helicopter may be spinning under the rotors instead of holding a heading.
Adjust the trim control so that the
spinning right (Clockwise)- Turn the trim control right if the body is spinning left (Counter Clockwise).
Note: many factors affect the trim of the helicopter such as battery condition, throttle setting and damage to the rotors.
It may be required to adjust the trim control more than once during a flight - once trimmed minor corrections can be
managed using the steering control. See the troubleshooting section for more information.

Direction control - Direction control convention is based
as if you were sitting in the pilot's seat of the
The LEFT/RIGHT stick on the transmitter controls the
steering of the helicopter. Pushing the stick left results
in a left turn.
Pushing the stick right results in a right turn.

Control Reversal- When the
towards you the steering will appear to reverse.

ISSUE:

Helicopter will not start,
LED on helicopter is OFF.

helicopter

helicopter

altitude.

helicopter

is flying

body does not spin: Turn the trim control left if the body is

helicopter

.

TROUBLESHOOTING

CAUSE:

1) Helicopter not turned on.

2) Battery is not charged.

3) Helicopter was not set to
OFF during charging.

4) Rotors locked for overload
protection.

Control Reversal

CORRECTIVE ACTION:

1) Turn helicopter on.

2) Ensure helicopter is off and charge battery.

3) Ensure helicopter is turned OFF during charging.

4) Adjust helicopter's on/off switch to OFF,
then switch on again.

ON/OFF

Also required; (sold separately)
6 “AA” alkaline batteries for
transmitter/charger.

LANDING GEAR

FRONT

LED LIGHT

CHARGE

PORT

CHARGE/ON/OFF

TROUBLESHOOTING -CONTINUED

ISSUE:

Helicopter will not start,
LED on helicopter is
FLASHING.

Helicopter is flying too
low.

Helicopter doesn't hover.

Helicopter doesn't fly
forward fast enough.

Helicopter always turns.

1) Motor stall protection is actived.

2) The battery in the helicopter is low.

1) Needs more power/throttle.

2) The battery in the helicopter is low.

3) The batteries in the charger are
drained.

1) The helicopter is designed to
always fly forward.

1) The helicopter is not designed for
fast flight.

1) Trim control is not set correctly.

2) The rotor blades have sustained
damage / or wear from use:
a. Helicopter spins counter clockwise.
b. Helicopter spins clockwise.

CAUSE:

CORRECTIVE ACTION:

1) Reset the helicopter by power off and on.

2) Ensure the helicopter is OFF and charge the battery.

1) Move the throttle stick up.

2) Ensure the helicopter is OFF and charge the battery.

3) Remove batteries from charger & replace
with new batteries and charge the helicopter again.

1) No corrective action required.

1) If desired, add a small amount of weight to
the bottom side of the nose (ie. tape a small
coin to nose of the bottom of the helicopter).

1) Adjust the trim control knob.
See the FLYING TIPS section.

2) Gently bend more curvature into the blades.
a. Adjust the lower rotor blades.
b. Adjust the top rotor blades.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Flying Area/Location?

Your Desert Thunder has a control range of about 20 feet with the direct line of sight with the controller.
Any obstruction of the infrared signal may temporarily interupt the proper function of the Desert Thunder.
Please note that this helicopter is meant to be flown inside only. The Desert Thunder is very
lightweight and so is very sensitive to air currents. You must be very careful to fly only in calm air

- keep away from fans, air vents or any other sources of moving air. Also, fly only in areas that are
free of furniture to avoid flying into household objects, and keep the heli at least 3 feet away from
walls and ceilings.

Safety?

Do not fly your helicopter near people or pets. Stay clear of furniture and other obstructions.
If you lose control of the helicopter, reduce the throttle and allow it to land. Do not attempt to open
the body of the helicopter or modify the design, doing so may damage the aircraft and may be
hazardous. Do not attempt to replace or overcharge the internal battery. To prevent battery damage,
use only the supplied battery charger.

Advanced pilot?

At full throttle the overall output from the motors is actually reduced when you apply trim or rudder
stick. This is because the motors are already at 100% and to turn, the only thing the control can do
is to reduce the speed of one of the motors. The other motor is at 100% and can not increase;
therefore the combined output is lowered. If you need full trim in one direction, this means that one
of your motors will never get up to 100%.

How long will the Desert Thunder fly?

This very much depends on the condition of your battery. Normal flight times are between 3 & 6
minutes. If you are able to fly for more than 4 minutes you should land and let the motors cool
down for a few minutes.

LED LIGHTS

PILOT INFORMATION NOTICE!

PILOT INFORMATION NOTICE!

The Desert Thunder is an indoor helicopter only. Do not attempt to fly it outdoor even on a calm day.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS -CONTINUED

Desert Thunder is tipping over during takeoff?

Launch the Desert Thunder from flat, smooth surfaces - only. When taking off, briskly move the
throttle stick forward to get the Desert Thunder airborne quickly, then, reduce throttle a bit to
prevent it from shooting skywards. Do NOT let the helicopter sit on the ground with the rotors
spinning at partial power - this will almost certainly cause the helicopter to tip over due to
uncompensated torque effects and gyroscopic precession. If for some reason the helicopter
tips over or crashes it is important to stop the rotors immediately by pulling the throttle stick to
DOWN (to the 'off' position). Stopping the rotors while the throttle stick is not in the 'off' position
could damage the motor brushes or the battery fuse.

Can my Desert Thunder fly forward more quickly?

If you feel that you are ready for the Desert Thunder to move forward a bit more quickly, you
can move the center of gravity forward. Attach a paper clip to the body under the nose of the
Desert Thunder. This will cause it to have a bit more forward flight speed but be aware that in
this case, the Desert Thunder will tend to fly forward even with the controls at neutral.

My charging takes much longer than 20 minutes?

The weight of the Desert Thunder can vary a little and this will influence your flight times.
If you are able to fly for about 4-5 minutes, a full charge will take 20-30 minutes. However,
if you are able to fly for more than one flight, resulting in longer total flight times - the charging
time will also increase relatively.

Charger won't charge the battery?

Make sure that the Desert Thunder is switched OFF.

Charger LED shuts OFF as soon as I plug in the Desert Thunder?

Your helicopter is fully charged - fly it.

BROKEN ROTOR BLADES?

BROKEN ROTOR BLADES?

If you break one of your rotor blades -don’t panic.

Replacement blades can be purchased at the original retail outlet for most BladeRunner Series
Helicopters. Or inform us at the numbers listed on the following page. Please retain proof of purchase.

Helicopter will not start,
LED on helicopter is ON.

1) Transmitter is not turned ON.

2) Speed control is not initialized .

3) Battery is low.

1) Turn transmitter on.

2)

Push UP/DOWN completely to UP, then

back to DOWN to initialize speed control.

3) Ensure helicopter is OFF and charge battery.

NOTICE!

IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS OR CONCERNS ABOUT

THIS PRODUCT, CONTACT OUR CUSTOMER CARE CENTRE

BEFORE RETURNING IT TO ANY RETAIL STORE!

Please contact us at:

Email: [e-mail]

Phone: Outside North America: [phone]

Inside North America: 1 866 214 2220

Address: Interactive Toy Concepts,17 Vulcan Street,Toronto, Ontario, Canada. M9W 1L3

Web site: www.interactivetoy.com

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Keep the helicopter away from face, eyes and hair at all times. Keep fingers away from moving rotors or propellers.

Do not fly the plane near or at other people or animals. Use caution when flying, make sure people around you

know that you are playing with the helicopter. Recommended for use indoors only in rooms without obstacles,

breakable objects or fans.

charger included in the package to charge the lithium polymer battery installed in the BlackStorm micro indoor IR controlled helicopter.

Do not attempt to overcharge your helicopter. Follow the charging instructions provided in this instruction manual.

The helicopter’s Lithium Polymer rechargeable battery is sealed inside the unit and can not replaceable.

Battery installation should be performed by an adult. Be careful to install the batteries with the correct polarity, as indicated.

Do not use rechargeable batteries. Do not mix alkaline, standard, lithium, rechargeable, or different types of batteries.

The supply terminals are not to be short-circuited. Exhausted batteries are to be removed as they will hinder performance.

unattended in the presence of children. Helicopter charging time will increase with usage as the condition of the AA cells diminish.

Warning: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to

operate the equipment.

Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These Limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential

installation. This generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with the
instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur
in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined

by turn the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try and correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

-

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna - Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver - Connect the equipment

to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected - Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Limited 30-day warranty

Product is warranted by Interactive Toy Concepts Limited against manufacturing defects in
material and workmanship under normal use for (30) days from the date of purchase.

Warranty is validated upon receipt of proof or purchase and confirmation of UPC code.

Desert Thunder Helicopter and BladeRunner Series are registered trademarks of Interactive Toy Concepts © 2012 All Rights Reserved.

Manufactured by and distributed by Interactive Toy Concepts Ltd. Conforms to Safety Standards ASTM F963-03 Regulatory Requirements.

The Infrared Controller also works as a charger and it takes six (6) AA size batteries (sold separately).

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

2) This device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Do not attemp to replace the Lithium Polymer rechargeable battery in the product!

Use only batteries recommended in this instruction manual. Do not mix old and new batteries.

Never leave a battery unattended while it is being charged. Never leave a battery

Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class B digital device, pursuant to

Lithium Polymer
Rechargeable Batteries
must be recycled or
disposed of properly.

The charger provided in this package is for charging the helicopter ONLY. Only use the provided

IMPORTANT BATTERY INFORMATION

FCC NOTE: U.S. ONLY

1) This device may not cause harmful interference.

Proof of Purchase

Products and colors may vary. MADE IN CHINA.

United States Patent Application No. 20040245376A1
PCT Application WO04103814A1
Canadian Patent CA 2,496,385
Norway Patent NO317612.

INS-45088-120418-US